• Collapsing Snow Bridge
• Exploding Command Post
• Land Mine and Swiveling Cannon
• Snow Base with Action Levers

• Cardboard AT-AT All Terrain Armored Transport with working elevator
• Hoth Base with action lever
• Laser Cannon

• Lights and Sounds
• Opening Canopy fits 2 pilots
• Remote Operated Landing Gear
• Swiveling Laser Harpoon Cannon and Removable Harpoon

Force fact:
Two “AA” batteries not included.

Weapons and Accessories:

• Seats 2 figures
• Retractable Landing Gear
• Opening Hoods

• Movable arms and legs
• Removable reins and saddle
• Trap door fits most Star Wars Action Figures

• Cardboard Cloud City environment with Carbon Freeze Chamber
• Set Comes with 4 new figures: Han Solo Bespin, Ugnaught, Lando Calrissian and Dengar the Bounty Hunter
• Comes with foot pegs

Force fact:
Second of the famous Sears Exclusive playsets that included figures.

• Playset with meditation chamber that lights up
• Swiveling command pad with simulated hologram
• Remote activated Laser Cannon

Force fact:
Two “C” batteries not included.

Also has a foot peg in the ceiling to hold prisoners upside down. Have to entertain Darth Vader somehow, right?

• Collector case that holds 24 Star Wars Figures
• Sticker sheet of the original 31 Figures
• Flip over the 2 cases and they are an excellent display stand!

Force fact:

This was a popular item that sold well as it was released in all three movies. One of several items where Kenner slapped a new label on an existing toy. Note that the assortment number never changes on the vinyl cases. I have seen these with gray and tan trays.

• Collector case that holds 31 Star Wars Figures
• Sticker sheet of the original 31 Figures or 41 depending on which version
• Special Chamber to store accessories

Force fact:

Early ESB release that was re-released throughout Empire and again in Return of the Jedi. The inserts and stickers changed to match the current figure releases of the year. There are also two rarer ESB releases that included figures. More on that in the Box variations section.

Weapons and Accessories:

• Seats 1 figure
• Gravity operated wings and removable side
• Clicking cannons, opening rear ramp, moveable seat
• Simulated Frozen Han Solo

Force fact:
This is the first and only release of a Star Wars vehicle that included a brand new figure. The Droid Factory had the 3 legged R2-D2 but that was not a “new” released figure and the Death Star had the Dianoga but that was a playset, not a vehicle. The Han Solo in Carbonite was only available with the Slave 1, never sold separately. The Han with Carbonite from the Power of the Force line was a completely resculpted toy.

• Pulsating flashing laser cannons with Lights and Sounds
• Opening Canopy fits 2 pilots
• Opening Side Door and room for figures therein
• Ultra large toy with articulate legs
• Head that moves from side to side with lever inside

Force fact:
Two “D” batteries not included.

Nothing of note here except THIS IS THE GREATEST TOY EVER MADE. Sorry no bias here, we are talking simple facts.  All toy history culminated in this; the apex of manufacturing, the AT-AT All Terrain Armored Transport. Most noteworthy thing to point out about this toy is that I did not get one as a child. “Too expensive”, “too big”, “you don’t need it”.   If ever my parents ask for anything can you guess what three quotes I will return to them? Thankfully I saved up my money and in 1984 found an ROTJ AT-AT at Toy Patch in Gilroy (fantastic toy store with wonderful owners) to make my life complete if a few years late. What, you think just because I am a dealer of toys I am any less passionate or insane as a collector than the rest of you guys?

• Playset with 2 action levers
• 2 levitation levers
• 2 Cargo Boxes and insert for R2-D2

Force fact:
Later releases of this set included a bonus Luke Harness Backpack for carrying Yoda.

• Rebel Command Center environment backdrop
• Set Comes with 3 new figures, Rebel Commander, AT-AT Commander and R2-D2 Sensorscope
• Comes with Hoth Base with action lever

Force fact:
Third of the famous Sears Exclusive playsets that included figures.

• Turret Base with opening door
• Probot Action Figure
• Turret Swiveling Cannon
• Snow Base with Action Levers

Force fact:
Great playset released actually in December 1980. Kmart, for some reason, got an early batch of these the week before Christmas in 1980. I remember actually convincing my mother to buy the set as there was no chance we had it coming for Christmas. She actually, for one of the rare times she gave in, bought the set for my brother and me. The early box that Kmart got was a variant on the later release, more on that later in the Box variations.

• Vehicle with opening canopy
• Movable Laser Cannon
• Toy rolls on the floor

Force fact:
These three Mini-Rigs, (MLC-3, MTV-7 and PDT-8) as they are referenced, were, like the Imperial Troop Transport, vehicles “just off screen.” We now refer to these as Expanded Universe toys. Toys which were not in the film but were in the background and were similar to other items of the time. Often maligned they were Kenner’s brilliant attempt to release inexpensive vehicles to go with the figures. They were good sellers and new ones were introduced all the way to the end of the line.

• Vehicle with open canopy
• Movable Laser Cannon
• Spring loaded legs that move

Force fact:
These three Mini-Rigs, (MLC-3, MTV-7 and PDT-8) as they are referenced, were, like the Imperial Troop Transport, vehicles “just off screen.” We now refer to these as Expanded Universe toys. Toys which were not in the film but were in the background and were similar to other items of the time. Often maligned they were Kenner’s brilliant attempt to release inexpensive vehicles to go with the figures. They were good sellers and new ones were introduced all the way to the end of the line.

• 2 Opening Door/Hatches
• 2 Movable Laser Cannons
• Movable Side Thrusters

Force fact:
These three Mini-Rigs, (MLC-3, MTV-7 and PDT-8) as they are referenced, were, like the Imperial Troop Transport, vehicles “just off screen.” We now refer to these as Expanded Universe toys. Toys which were not in the film but were in the background and were similar to other items of the time. Often maligned they were Kenner’s brilliant attempt to release inexpensive vehicles to go with the figures. They were good sellers and new ones were introduced all the way to the end of the line.

• Collector case that holds 24 Star Wars Figures
• Sticker sheet of the original 41 Figures
• Flip over the 2 cases and they are an excellent display stand!

Force fact:

This was a popular item that sold well as it was released in all three movies. At this point the trays are tan in color.

• Poseable Figure with Movable arms and legs
• Action Arms that swing to attack

• Opening Wings
• Opening Canopy fits 1 pilot
• Retractable Landing Gear

Force fact:
Two “AA” batteries not included. Second X-Wing Fighter release. While the toy is the same mold the cockpit was tinted and the fighter itself was now gray instead of white. It also came with an additional sticker sheet to simulate battle damage.

• Vehicle has walking feature
• Cockpit opens to hold one figure
• Side guns rotate and click

• 40 Man Crew Chambers
• Removable front and back hatches
• Secret Escape Hatch
• Removable Cannon Assembly
• 5 Backpacks and 4 Gas Masks

Force fact:
This was one of Kenner’s larger toy releases and the big toy of 1982. However this was one of the few disappointing sellers of the line.  It was not re-released in a ROTJ box as the ESB ones were still on the shelves during Return of the Jedi. I found some still on Toys R’ Us shelves in 1988!

• Movable arms and legs
• Removable reins and saddle
• Trap door fits most Star Wars Action Figures
• Open Belly rescue feature

• Vehicle with opening canopy
• Movable Laser Cannon
• Remotely operated wings

Force fact:
One of five new Mini-Rigs for 1982. All 8 Empire released Mini-Rigs were such good sellers that they all were re-released with the ROTJ logo.

• Vehicle with opening canopy
• Movable Laser Cannon
• Vehicle with remote “capture” feature

Force fact:
One of five new Mini-Rigs for 1982. All 8 Empire released Mini-Rigs were such good sellers that they all were re-released with the ROTJ logo.

• Cannon with blow apart feature
• Movable Laser Cannon that clicks when rotated

Force fact:
These last three Mini Rigs (Radar Laser Cannon, Tripod Laser Cannon and Vehicle Maintenance Energizer) were a bit different that other Mini-Rigs. They were a bit smaller and the boxes had no flaps making take up half the shelf space. These were designed as even cheaper Mini-Rigs at the price point MSRP.<

• Cannon with energizer and hose
• Movable Laser Cannon that clicks when rotated
• Folding tri-pod stand

Force fact:
These last three Mini Rigs (Radar Laser Cannon, Tripod Laser Cannon and Vehicle Maintenance Energizer) were a bit different that other Mini-Rigs. They were a bit smaller and the boxes had no flaps making take up half the shelf space. These were designed as even cheaper Mini-Rigs at the price point MSRP.

• Energizer with movable top
• 8 Tools
• 2 Energizer hoses

Force fact:
These last three Mini Rigs (Radar Laser Cannon, Tripod Laser Cannon and Vehicle Maintenance Energizer) were a bit different that other Mini-Rigs. They were a bit smaller and the boxes had no flaps making take up half the shelf space. These were designed as even cheaper Mini-Rigs at the $5 price point MSRP.

• Collector case that holds 24 Star Wars Figures
• Sticker sheet of the original 41 Figures
• Flip over the 2 cases and they are an excellent display stand!

Force fact:

This was a popular item that sold well as it was released in all three movies. At this point the trays are red in color and remain this way from now on.  This is the final release of the toy for Empire. Note that the artwork has changed noticeably from the 2nd release.

• 4 7 1/2 inch long “L” shaped display stands
• Holds up to 14 Figures one each stand
• 4 Different 2 sided Backdrops
• You can interconnect stands in many ways

Force fact:
Original available for $2.00 plus 10 Proof of Purchases via mail in a plain brown box from an offer on the back of the ESB 45 Back Figures.